BJP national president Nitin Gadkari made a flying visit to the city. He had press conference at Mla Sanjay Patil’s residence and later went to Kolhapur.

Mandar Jagtap a Freelance graphic designer at ocean graphics made this caricature of Sanjay Patil welcoming Nitin Gadkari to Belgaum.

Bharatiya Janata Party’s national president Nitin Gadkari here, said that India is one country and we will remain one.

On the issue of his party MLAs in the state were being alleged of illegal mining, Gadkari as anyone else said that BJP believes in law and the Lokyukta.

At the press meet

On the border dispute, Nitin Gadkari on a cautious note said that Manmohan Singh should take a lead to solve the dispute with the two states. With this he also stated that both Marathi and Kannada speaking people should work together for development keeping aside all linguistic differences. He did not take any more questions on this topic saying the matter was in the Supreme court and it would not be good to discuss matters which are in the court.

Later Nitin Gadkari gave a small speech at Gomatesh vidyapeeth where Chairman of Gomatesh Vidyapeet Sanjay Patil, MLA, Suresh C. Angai, M.P., former minister Shashikant A. Nayak and Mahantesh Kavatagimath, MLC were present.

Among those were blatant by their absence were Abhay Patil, MLA and Prabhakar B. Kore, M.P.

Anyone aged 24, would be flying high in his life enjoying his life either studying his PG or who has just got his first job. But how many of them will ever think that they have something to give back to the society at this age, not many for sure.

Meet Mahesh Jadhav, aged 24 who has seen a tough life all his years, has become a philanthropist at 24 by starting Mahesh Foundation a registered NGO.

Under the NGO he has just started “Aadhar” a home for the homeless kids at Kanbargi, Belgaum.

Aadhar will provide shelter to the homeless children along with education and skills of self employment. At this moment Aadhar has 23 family members as Mahesh calls them 11 boys and 12 girls all from Belgaum Taluka.

Aadhar has been set up with the help various industrialists who are like minded who have come together to provide shelter to the orphans. All orphans within the age group of 4 to 12 years will be accommodated to begin with. At this moment Aadhar has a capacity of 40 children and in future he plans to expand it to 200 children.

Aadhar has 11 board of directors including businessmen, entrepreneurs and social workers like Raju Malavade, Bhemu Jadhav, Shankar Pujari, Mrutunjay Hiremath and Renuka Bhosale.

About Mahesh Jadhav:

Mahesh is a diploma holder from Bhartesh and did his schooling from Siddeshwar high school Kanbargi.

He began his enterprising career from a small photocopying shop in Kapileshwar at the age of 20. After he was able to save a few rupees he got an idea of starting some other business and started Mahesh enterprises, a consumer durables shop. Later he started Mahesh Finance to solely finance the consumer electronics buying with his own capital of Rs.3 lakhs. He then started Mahesh Transport which now transports mid day meals to 54 schools.

Mahesh’s business is also unique. He sells all the consumer electronic goods majorly in the rural markets of Kanbargi, Honga, Sambra & Sulebhavi on finance. His 85% of the sales are under finance, and all this finance is done through his company Mahesh Finance.

Life for Mahesh was not angelical. He lost his father when he was a year old in an accident. His mother, a brave heart brought up Mahesh and other five children (3 brothers & 2 sisters). Now one sister takes care of his Photo copy shop and the other looks after Kanbargi consumer durables shop.

Mahesh told AAB that, bankers gave him a lot of support all through for his business and he fell into social service in 2006. From then on he has never looked back and he had decided then only that he would build a home for the homeless.

Aadhar is his first step towards fulfillment of his philanthropic dream.

All the best to him.

Aadhar currently needs your support and people interested can donate in kind or cash.

People who are interested in helping him in his venture could call him on 0831-242810/ 9164575327

Address of home: Aadhar, 792/1 Siddeshwar Nagar, Kanbargi, Belgaum – 15.

Email: maheshfoundationbgm@gmail.com

This site when it began was known as Belgaumblog.blogspot.com then later it was branded as Belgaumblog.com and now it has it name AllAboutBelgaum.com.

A look at its logos:

In the recent years I am have become a need to all the political parties big or small. Not only parties; I am now the main element around which an entire agitation revolves.

I have been in Belgaum from many years, but in the past week or so I have got a great demand for my self after the rake up of the border dispute once again.

Did you all get who am I, NO, I am “Effigy” A crude figure or dummy representing a hated person or group.

I am made in all sizes and figures with many faces most of them very flagitious, but even then I am made with care and then carried along to a center of the circle and my favorite circle is Chennamma Circle. Where after shouting slogans a few who made me keep me in the center of the circle and when all the traffic is blocked “I feel like a hero, with people from all angles looking at me and the media jumping, sitting to get a good angle of me”.

After all shoutiung is done it my time to get some harsh beating with chappals and sandals and then some inflammable material is thrown on me and I am set a aflame.

Things just dont end here for me, infact once I am set on fire people pound on me from all directions, kick me, throw me and get out all the ill feeling they have about some one out on me as if I was in real the person who they hated.

After some flashes by the media as I am set a blaze and I collapse down on the earth, where my end is near, the people who made me again shout slogans and leave me alone and walk away.

My mortal remains are then thrown away in a unruly and unacceptable manner by the Police usually on the side of the road where my life comes to an end, but I am happy to die, as I have come of some use to them, they may be “Marathi’ or “Kannada’. Thats my story- Effigy.

On 10 July, 2010 AAB published a report on the IT park- Belgaum IT park cum grazing ground

The same story with one image from the Story (cow grazing) was picked up and published in Sakal on 14-07-2010.

On 15-07-2010 we were surprised again to see the same cow appear in Indian Express with a similar tittle.

We at AAB believe that we are working on the right path of giving the readers good and solid material which is also original (most of the times). This has also happened in the past and we are proud of our readers that you got to know this story first than others.

We are not faltering ourselves, we cant do that, We dont have a massive team to work, but even then we do try to get you information which is fruitful.

Even we at AAB take copies from so many papers and sites but we also mention our source as a respect to the first person who wrote it, we also expected the same here.

Anyways readers, thanks for the support and we will try getting you reports earlier than others if possible.

Thanks Shaielsh Joshi for the IE Copy.

Belgaum is in the news again and the entire print media including regional have written on the Centre’s affidavit on the Border issue. The Marathi Media showcased its side while the Kannada its side.

The English media took a fifty fifty stand.

But my question to all residents of Belgaum, (we hope we can call our selves Belgaumites with no language bias again) is what difference has this particular reply by the Central government made to us.

Belgaumites are moving on with their lives in a city, which they feel, needs infrastructure and industrial development more than linguistic oneupmanship.

Still the case is hearing and when the final verdict will be out is not known. The Supreme Court will also understand the nature of this case and not give any decision in a haste.

Many people we spoke to said that, they never felt that there was a issue and status quo should be maintained.

College going students never realized that this kind of issue exists and they said what difference does it make if one speaks Kannada and other Marathi. In fact everyone has friend whose mother tongue is Marathi or Kannada and we together spend hours together chatting.

Many people who were born here studied here and then went out for work, spent their entire life working and now have come back to Belgaum to live a peaceful life. Their demand is a more better developed Belgaum.

Take it to be city’s bad luck but the name of our city is in the limelight for non developmental issues rather than developmental.

Belgaum belongs to Belgaumites and we should forget the past, the past has only spoken of warriors and not good administrators who were pro people and development of society, thats we act in aggression and harsh ways. if in our past we had good administrators ruling us who gave importance to good culture and development of society Belgaumites today would not be fighting on language issue rather we would have been a more advanced community with all the natural resources that god has gifted us in Belgaum. Our rulers were mere tax collectors, tomb builders, religion enforcers. Lets forget the past and join hands for development, I am sure they youth of Belgaum irrespective of language only need development and respect both languages and cultures. It is time to move on, unite and consolidate for a better future.

Many rejoiced when this particular reply was filed in the Supreme court, but what difference has it made to us? We have the same roads, same water supply, same electric supply. We have no great options for amusement and when some guests come here and when they ask,” what is there in your city to see?” we are in a fix. I have seen people ask me where can I take my guests out for sight seeing in the city.

This linguistic domination of one group will take us back and not forward.

Many would argue that, previous governments have harassed us and as a city we have not got what we should have got as being one of the highest tax payers to the state after Bangalore.

But here we are not understanding the “Raajneeti”. Politicians use this language card and play with the emotions, they succeed we fail.

If we come together and form a Belgaum where we dont entertain them they have no option. We are only responsible for all this. In a market, goods are sold only when there is a market.

We all Belgaumites need to come aboard a platform and get work done from the govt.
Platforms BELGAUMNEXT having this same thought are working towards a better Belgaum.

Development of Belgaum is most important thing. Let energies be diverted in the right channel wherein it benefits people, its easy to provoke people on language and religion but not on constructive issues.

We are sure living with pride and respect is more important than in which state. Cant we have a situation while in Karnataka that no one misses what they feel they miss. Belgaum is Bi-lingual is a known fact ; history speaks of this for the last 500 years.

Be proud Belgaumite.

In his early twenties when he he had just got married a year back, life was at it s best for Mahantesh Mali. Working in industries in Udyambag he was leading a happy life. But this was not to be, on his birthday it self in 1993 he was diagnosed for being HIV positive. It was a shock of life time for him. He then became very weak and doctors said that he could live for another two years for a maximum. Mahantesh was out of his mind and he was grasping end to be very near. He weighed only 28 kgs in 1994 and could not even drink water, he was just a piece of bones.

The thought that he would die was eating him. His wife stood next to him not knowing what had happened to her husband. She decided to live life positively and encouraged Mahantesh to look at life positively and one day he too decided that, lets face it and he removed all the bad thoughts from his mind and decided to work for the welfare of HIV positive patients. He was very good at speaking and making one understand in his own language. With time two years passed by and nothing happened to him. This gave him more confidence to enjoy life and take it as it comes and today in 2010 Mahantesh Mali is the president of the Spandana network which looks after the welfare of HIV patients.
He is healthy and takes only a single medicine and is now father of a two year old (HIV Negative) child leading a happy life with his wife and many children.

Yes many children, he just started Nandana Makkala Dhama which houses 30 children from various areas of Belgaum district who are all HIV positives and all have been either left off by their parents or they have no one to take care of.

Nandana Makkala Dhama

Nandana Makkala Dhama is an initiative of staff of Spandana Network with Mr.Mahantesh R Mali at the helm of affiars. The Makkala Dhama formally inaugurated by Mr. Manjunath BH, Regional Commissioner, Belgaum and Dr. Ashok Muragod, District Superintendent, Belgaum on 31st December 2008.

The staffs of the Spandana Network decided to start an orphan home for the HIV positive children feeling their needs in the district. The staffs contributed their one month salary for this noble cause. The network also did an advocacy with Children and Welfare Department and succeeded to get a building for 10 years. The Honorable Minister Mr. Balachandra Jarkiholi donated an Ambulance for this cause.

This is the first such hostel in north Karnataka working without any government aid.

A small interview with Mahantesh Mali:

What is that you would like to say to all about HIV positives?

Nobody dies of AIDS they all die of fear and stigma. It is our duty to spread awareness so that society treats people living with HIV with care and compassion. Social stigma and discrimination killed more people than AIDS. However, the situation was changing as HIV infected people were being accepted by general public. HIV positive people lose immunity and were prone to diseases such as TB, diarrhoea, etc. Providing medicines for such people should be the priority of government hospitals.

Have you got any support from the local MP and MLA’s?

(Laughs) He says we call all of them but we have not received any concrete help anyone local MLA’s and MP’s. We had called Mr.Angadi many a times but he still hasnt visited our functions. Only Mr. Balachandra Jarkiholi donated an ambulance and has promised to construct a building once we get land for our Makkala Dham.

How do you identify these children?

We are on tour on 5 days in various parts of the district and then we try and identify children who are positives or who have been left off by their parents or their parents have expired. We have identified about 700 HIV positives in Belgaum district but we cannot manage all of them dude to lack of funds hence we are only looking after 30 students.

What is that you do at this Makkala Dham?

We get these children from rural areas like Hukkeri, Raibag, Gokak, Savadatti and surrounding areas teach them here for a year and then make arrangements to shift them to govt. school for actual schooling.
During this time we take complete care of them with medicines, food and shelter.

Some of your experiences while working in this field?

Mostly all are bad, but one incident which still hurts me is the case of a school building in Bassavan Kolla(behind Hindalco) which was lying un utilized as the school was shifted from there to a more bigger building. We got permission from all the authorities and just before the day we were supposed to take possession of the building the villagers opposed this and said that we wont allow HIV positive children around our village. Still the said building is lying un utilized for over 8 months now. This stigma from the minds of the people needs to be removed.

How do you manage the expenses of the Makkala Dham?

All the expenses are borne by the staff of Spanadana network. We pay Rs.4000 as rent for the building and then there are food, clothing expenses. Noble people do come forward and donate food, clothing etc but we dont have a continuous inflow of funds.
We really want to expand to our own building but we dont have funds.

There are very noble people around like Mr.Mahesh who donated a TV and a satellite connection so that the children can watch TV. Mahesh also arranged parties on his birthday at the Dham.

One good experience is also has to be mentioned. Just next our present building in Sadashiv nagar we had to open another office under a separate scheme of the Govt. where only registration of the patients would be done. But a lady of the apartment opposed this and field a police complaint. All the residents also joined in, but we explained them that this was only a center for registration and nothing else. But still they did not hear. After a few days of working over there the lady herself came forward and gave us the space for the second office.

What are your current needs?

Our current needs are many but we need cots (muti level) so that we can accommodate all the children in the small space we have. If any one is interested in donating anything they can contact me. It can be in kind or otherwise.

What are your future plans?

Future plan is to build a own building for the Makkala Dham and try and get more children in it.

Do you work only for HIV patients or others as well?

We mainly work for HIV patients but we work for others as well. A few months back there was a old man suffering from leprosy lying on the main road towards KLE hospital. We immediately bought some clothes for him gave him water and called the leprosy mission and got him admitted there. We have performed last rites on 17 people till now with the help of Mr.More Ex mayor.

About Spandana Network:

Spandana Network is a registered society working for and by people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in Belgaum. It was started in 2005. Spandana Network Belgaum is affiliated to Karnataka Network for people living with HIV/AIDS, a State network of people living with HIV/AIDS. Spandana Network is working in Belgaum District from last four years. Network has registered 4500 PLHIVs including 600 children in which 50 children are orphan or semi orphan (Single Parent). 62 people work under the network selflessly to create awareness about HIV in entire Belgaum district.

At Spandana its not only awareness creation or giving medicines the consecrated staff of the network work all the time to identify people affected with HIV throughout the district and with the same also perform last rites on people who cannot afford or dont want to perform the last rites as the person has died being HIV positive.

On the other side at Spandana they have also managed to marry 17 couples together all being HIV positives. All the married couples are now happily leading a new lease of life.

Nandana Makkala Dhama

Mahantesh R Mali
4^th Cross, Nidhi Building, Near Kannada Marathi primary school, Sadashiv Nagar Belgaum.

Phone: 9611404408
0831- 4209865

By Sahir Kittur & UkMaD

Can you imagine this, we at AAB did not and Sahir hunted for information on the same all over the globe from Iceland to UK and got some confirmation on the same.

There were TWO ships which were named BELGAUM, yes the ships were named Belgaum but experts in Shipping history said that, determination of a specific reason for the name was not historically available.

There are TWO ships which had the name Belgaum both were shipping trawlers.

M.V.BELGAUM RE161 YEAR :- 1916 – vessel type Steam Tug
Vessel Name: Belgaum

Record Number: 1328
Resource Identifier: flod25052006060
Fishing Number: RE161
Type of Vessel: ST
Subsequent Names: Hofdaborg
Year Constructed: 1916

Constructed By: Cochrane & Sons Ltd
Constructed At: Selby
Gross Tons: 337
Length: 140.3 ft
Beam: 24.1 ft
Depth: 13.1 ft
Subsequent Owners: Hofdaborg h/f, Reykjavik
Date Scrapped: 1954/55

M.V.BELGAUM GY218 YEAR :- 1956 Type of Vessel – Motor Tanker

Vessel Name: Belgaum

Record Number: 601750
Resource Identifier: floh24072006005
Fishing Number: GY218
Type of Vessel: MT
Official Number: 184939
Previous Names: Prince Philip
Year Constructed: 1956
Constructed By: Cook, Welton & Gemmell Ltd
Constructed At: Beverley
Gross Tons: 577
Length: 165.4 ft
Beam: 30.3 ft
Depth: 15.3 ft
Engines: Mirlees Bickerton & Day, 1050 BHP, 13 knots
Owner / Manager: Iago Steam Trawling Co
Previous Owners: Abunda Fishing F & T Ross
Subsequent Owners: Dominion Fishing
Date Scrapped: 1979
Place Scrapped: Rainham, Kent

Now the biggest question why were these vessels named as Belgaum?
We could not find an answer do you know? Come on take a guess may be you are correct.

Thanks to:
1.The Fleetwood Motor Trawler site

2.Fleetwood online Archive of Trawlers ( FLOAT )

3.Plimsollshipdata.

No longer are the children with disabilities left on hillside to perish like the days of Sparta, nor do they spend their lives in beds, hospitals. A great deal has changed not only in rehabilitation science but also the social climate has improved. New frontiers in realizing optimal health, wellness, and fitness are being accomplished through research, public policy, advocacy, technological advances, and training and program development. There have been changes in attitude, system, facilities, educational programmes, and school curriculum for the disabled people. The Governments and Non-Government Organisation world over are making endless efforts in this direction. The so called “disabled people” are rather considered “differently abled persons” or also as “differently gifted”. In fact, it is the society, which handicap them by depriving them form the opportunities that they require to lead their lives actively. They do not want any pity but need encouragement in their efforts to overcome the handicaps. The society should see what these people are left with and not what they have lost.

To Bring the disabled persons into mainstream of life requires offering them all possible opportunities, especially physical therapy, to improve their motor capacities. In this regard exercising inside water permits them, irrespective of the handicap, to move quite freely without calipers, sticks, cruches, or wheelchairs. Such an independent exercise programme through unhurting active routines in water is called Aquatherapy. It leads to immeasurable benefits and aims for ABILITY IN WATER as opposed to DISABILITY ON LAND. Aquathreapy emphasizes the prevention and treatment of neuro-muscular complications. It is also useful for those with back problems, joint reconstructions, arthritis, stress related injuries and sports injuries.

Blind by birth he is learning swimming

The Swimmers club and Aquarius club of Belgaum in association with the Rotary Club of Belgaum jointly organize free training camps for such differently abled children like Blind, physically handicapped, mentally retarded etc with the tittle” YES WE CAN”.
Here the children are taught to swim under the guidance of Umesh Kalghatgi, Kusane, Tendolkar and others. These noble people are doing this for many a years now and until today they have trained over 1000 children to swim and have got them into the main stream life.

Blind girl jumping of the platform

Once you see these children you think these are really special children but they cannot walk or talk or see as normal ones. But seeing the enthusiasm at the pool side was amazing. Imagine watching a 12 year old completely blind girl by birth jumping from a 10 feet platform with confidence, is amazing.

Furat & Zeba who hail from Kudachi, Raibag who are suffering from a rare disease and they need very special treatment due to their illness are now getting trained to swim and over come their physical disabilities.

Swayam Bandivadekar aged 5, who is mentally retarded has come here for training as the doctors said medicines wont cure him, so you should try out Aqua therapy.

There are many a success stories here, take Atesh Jadhav, who could not stand straight, after training here for three years he can now stand straight, see you straight in the eye and now he will be going to the aborad to participate in the swimming championship.

Sharad Kumbhar aged 8 years who is from Haveri is here with his parents to get trained and his parents told that they heard about this camp in a news channel and they have put themselves up here at a hotel so that they can get their son treated.

Moin Mustaque Junned, a native of Kudachi in Raibag taluk who has now settled in Belgaum, has been suffering with a rare disease of zero-bone calcium. Due to the delicate nature of his bones, he has hundreds of fractures all over his body. Moin neither could stand on his feet nor eat without someone’s help. Even a slight blow can result in another fracture. The doctors have suggested the family to take utmost care. He won gold medals in 50m freestyle and 50m backstroke. He has been trained here.

Zeba & Furat being trained

The training camp goes on for a period of 25 days and this time 150 children from the age group of 4 years to 14 years are participating. The organizers with the help of some good Samaritan make transport arrangements and also for the costumes of the children. A sum of Rs. One lakh is needed for a 25 days camp and all is arranged by the Aquaris club and Swimmers club with the help of some generous people.

Deaf & Dumb children warming up before getting into the pool

The children are not only trained by the experts but the elder children who have been trained here earlier take active part in training the new children.

After the one hour training all the children are given snacks after which they proceed back to their places of stay.

You Too Can Help !

Knowing your sensitivity to the disabled people the organizers sincerely appeal to you to kindly come forward and extend your full support to such a noble cause :

By introducing the program to some other organizations with similar aims and objects.

By suggesting new means and methods for the treatment of disability through movement education.

By helping to make a sound financial footing and serve the needy better by executing it’s plans.

You can contact: Umesh Kalghatgi – 9448187333 or Prasad Tendolkar – 9845429093.

by Satish Kumar Sr. Engineer MINDSCAPE (IMG) (Dubai)

A bigger miscalculation and miss out from our public representatives need to be show casted.

In 1982 the former CM (Late) Shri Ram Krishan Hegde (from Sirsi) envisaged the growth for Northern Karnataka, drew attention of Rail road projects, Well K-Ride did not exist though, but there something terribly something gone wrong with infrastructure policy in North Karnataka particularly Belgaum.

Shri. Hegde had evinced and proposed the survey and execution of Belgaum Bagalkote Raichur line and Belguam- Dharwad line in his tenure, there was no state central partnership then so these proposals kept eating dust.

In the recent years we have been hearing Bagalkote- Kudchi line, I am shocked to see the viability of this project, reason being it was actually Belgaum Bagalkote proposed line, Major Cement distribution companies are based in Belgaum for covering North Karnataka region, the belt has spread across from Belgaum Yadwad, Lokapur, Bagalkote and the second belt is of Sedam, Shahbad Gulbarga region so since when the Belgaum Bagalkote Raichur line, took a shift to Kudchi Bagalkote Line God only knows, I pity the foresight of these elected representatives for such non viable projected mess up

I had earlier worked chalked a project for Belgaum Bagalkote line through Sambra as junction plus integrated freight corridor ( the station actually falls off Muchhandi /Ashte village on Belgaum- Gokak road ) and further towards Nesargi , Yargatti Lokapur and Bagalkote, further from there to Bagalkote Hungund till Raichur.

I have observed many times the freight loading earlier done at Belgaum is now carried from Desur mainly Cement and Fertilizer form Zuari Agro/Vasvdatta companies, the latest addition to this will be Dalmia Cement plant commissioning near Belgaum .

Why our district representative don’t look forward for such viable and profitable projects, which would give a credible development to be around Belgaum.

Some of major advantages of Belgaum Baglakot Raichur line

1) Connecting of Border districts of Belgaum to main land of North West Karnataka.

2) New access to Raichur, Gulbarga and Hyderabad regions can be another corridor for development, by road Belgaum already serves as gateway to Goa now.

3) Tourism coverage of Sogal, Naveel teerth, Badami, Trogal forts and many more falling under this region.

4) East port linkage for coal supply form Goa port to RTPS (Raichur Thermal Power station).

5) Inland intra port connectivity of Visakhapatnam to Goa ( Naval facilitation for new base at Belgaum)

The second story of Belgaum Dharwad line via Kittur

It was surveyed and open for commissioning since last three government in the state, the key reason being if these line get implemented there will be major shift in all north bound trains from Bangalore terminating at Belgaum, to which the politicians of Hubli are opposed the fact to support this is, twin city Dharwad has to fight for rail extension of many trains terminating at Hubli. What is the use of having SWR head quarter at Hubli though serves no purpose of development of Northern Karnataka.

KRIDE ( a joint venture of State/Central Govt (projects are done cost sharing basis) Karnataka Rail Infrastructure development Establishment) evinced interest in this proposal but MR Bommai Jr. again twisted the seen on Belgaum Dharwad line via Bailhongal , a delay of another decade may be now.

The blind MP and MLAS are driving we Belgaumites vision less and just hardly have vision for City.

Bidar being last bordering district of state getting connected to main land Karnataka through Gulbarga Bidar rail line, Why not Belgaum get similar treatment.

Small cities with quarter population as that of Belgaum have trains connecting to state capital, why are we deprived of same. The new project of Belgaum station renovation will only upgrade building and some recreation facilities, what about coach filling, powering and cleaning facilities? What about shunting lines for Rake facility?

The value of Belgaum being Divisional head Quarter is too low and having N Karnataka Regional commissioner office being based here is still having dearth of these entire basic rail infrastructure requirement. (Something like Chiraag tale Andhera)

The above facts are on the basis of news and articles and my own investigations and findings. This is to make aware and spread the right vision of Belgaumites to look forward for better future , and put across views to right authorities for better future planning of Belgaum.

Under the Then and Now series, in this particular story the time gap between Then and Now is hardly 4 days.

For development trees are chopped and made way for a more widened road on which we can ply our vehicles and emit more CO2 and the trees which used to absorb them have been cut.

THEN: photo taken on Angol Road on Tuesday 9^th February

NOW: photo taken on same spot Angol Road on Saturday 13^th February.

See the difference between the two images.

This is the tree which has been cut just near to the Shri Aai Kalavati Devi temple.

Najar milate hi hua asar sarab ke tarah

ki o haqiqat gujar gaye ek khawab ki tarah

hosh me jo aya to saya bhi na unaka

payadil ke chaman ke halat thi ujade bag ke tarah.

Belgaum in this past couple of months has been in the limelight for not so good reasons for the city as a whole. From controversies on 100 crore to its implementation. Still none of the projects under the 100 crore special grant have been completed but newer projects under said scheme are being launched.

See the trees on the road side all this will go in three days

The present one is the road widening of the Angol Road (from Big Bazaar to Shambhaji Chowk Raghunath Peth). The road will be widened to 50 feet as per the CDP(city development plan). Work has already begun on the road and first deaths are those of the trees which were standing there even before we all were born.

See the logs of wood

Logs are lying on the road side

The road does have heavy traffic and as the Aai Kalavatidevi temple is on the same road many throng the road daily.

After cutting the Tree it is set to fire, how in human

The trees have been chopped off and there was a controversy over the cutting the trees as a tender for the same was not taken out, but as it happens always, all is well again and the trees have been cut. The worst part about 98 trees have been numbered and will be cut one by one. 98 trees cut will this impact the mother nature it will for sure, but who cares!

Numbering done on each tree

The Killing is on

gutter work has begun

The road looks clean and green but once these trees are cut it will be nightmare for sure.

My questions to all people of Belgaum and those who are implementing it as well:

1. you have cut the threes will you plant any more?
   The answer to this will be yes by the authorities but there is no space now on this road, so you will get an answer that 2 trees have been planted in some jungle, how stupid.
2. Could many of the trees being saved?
   This answer is very difficult to answer for anyone, as all are in a hurry to commence a project complete it half and start another one.
3. Will the cutting of trees affect Global warming?For sure YES! 98 trees cut from a single street means so much of less oxygen and so much less of carbon dioxide in the air.
4. Last question to all, do we need this kind of development at a cost to mother nature?
   

   Save trees This hoarding is there all over the city, What an Idea Sir je

All photos: UkMaD & Team AAB
People on this blog have heavily commented on this blog on border issue and have fought it out to have their say, Belgaumites fight for this, people staying away from Belgaum when you come back it wont be your Belgaum anymore, it would rather be a different world altogether.

God Bless us!
For me personally this was even worse than the Mahatma Phule road coverage.